Fathi 1

Parisa Fathi
December 1, 2013
ENC 3315
Prof. Weaver

Argument model: Rogerian

Audience: Janice, the president of the association who is a white, female, baby
boomer. She is active in her church community and neighborhood, but has racist
tendencies. She would be interested in my argument because she is the president
this is a hot topic in my neighborhood, but she is also interested in appeasing the
neighborhood as a whole while keeping us on budget. Janice is pro-gate.
Carmen, a black lady who works two jobs to support her three kids, one of which
has had many run-ins with the law. She has family nearby to help and support her,
so there are many cars coming in and out just for her house. She would be
interested in my argument because her family and friends already have access to
the neighborhood because they know her personal gate code number. While she is
interested in reducing crime, her son has a record; in a sense, she lives with the
criminals the gate is trying to keep out.
Joe, the middle aged, white cop. He works for the Orange County Police
Department and also has two kids, a wife, and a dog. Joe owns several guns under
strict lock and key because of his comfort with them as a police officer. He would
be interested in this because of his roles as police officer and father/husband; he is
concerned about safety for his family and others, but also has expertise in law
enforcement and criminal defense. I do not know his opinion nor do I know
Carmens opinion about the gate.
Cooper, the presidents husband. Like his wife, he is a white baby boomer who is
very religious and very conservative. He is a proud member of the NRA, is very
prejudiced, but is loosing his support for the gate. Cooper is not afraid to let
people know any of those three things. He would be interested in this argument as
the counter-argument. He would probably deny any claims I made about getting
rid of the gate.
Nicole, a middle-aged, white, mother of two (a 14- and 20-year-old). She is
married to an Iranian, a culture and country scrutinized in todays media and
politics. Though she lives next door to a lady whose house was broken into and
robbed while the gate was down, she does not want the gate. In her words, she
thinks the gate is dumb and a nuisance; this is the first time she has ever lived
in a neighborhood that has a gate. She runs a lot of errands and is in and out of the
neighborhood very often. I chose these audience members because they are my
neighbors who I have interacted with. They also present the variety of opinions
and lifestyles that make up my neighborhood; there are a lot of families and
retirees/soon-to-be-retired people. My neighborhood is not racially diverse, but
neither is this part of Sanford. They all value safety and security, but each believes
in addressing the issue in different ways.

Fathi 2
Argument Against Security Gates in Communities
I have been a resident of Calabria Cove for almost ten years. My mom chose this
neighborhood when she was sent to house hunt while my sister, father, and I were still
living in California. I remember my parents nightly phone conversations about the
houses she saw and her assessment of them. She told my father about a house that fit their
requirements: one story, no pool, in an area with good schools, close to civilization
Seeing children playing in their respective yards of the 38 houses, Calabria Cove has that
neighborly feeling my parents desired. It was the perfect house with one catch: the house
was in a gated community, which featured a homeowners association. My parents never
lived with either and had no intention to do so, but with a need to move out of the
skyrocketing prices of the suburbs of Sacramento, this house would be the one. Since
living here, my parents have had no qualms against the homeowners association, but do
have a lot to say about that damn gate.
From the number of times its forced open due to malfunctions, to the
temperamental gate clicker, and poorly maintained callbox, the gate presents itself as a
nuisance. The topic of keeping or getting rid of the gate has been debated at many
homeowners meetings. Each time it gets knocked down by a majority of pro-gate votes.
The great gate debate has been complicated in the past year due to the Trayvon Martin
shooting and trial. Living just one street away from the crime scene, it makes sense that
this incident shook up Calabria Cove, let alone Twin Lakes. We have a lot in common
with Twin Lakes: we are both family-friendly neighborhoods filled with a diverse array
of people just wanting to be safe and free from crime, things we strive for and are
thankful for in our communities. Our communities also have similar entrances. We both

Fathi 3
have gates; Twin Lakes has two at separate entrances while we have the one. Though
obvious, it seems to be forgotten that the crime occurred inside the subdivision by a
resident of one of the townhomes who received the same level of protection that the gate
provides. The shooter was not some person who walked from the street, entered the
neighborhood, and wrecked havoc. The gate would not have prevented or stopped
anything that happened that night.
The desire for gates is an understandable one. Gates like ours are likely to cut
down on pass-through traffic, making the streets a bit quieter and safer for the many
children who play in their front yards (Ness). They also prevent annoyances [such] as
solicitors and canvassers, mischievous teenagers, and [unwanted] strangers (Blakely and
Snyder 1). Property values tend to be higher in gated neighborhoods than non-gated ones
(McGoey). Communities with gates generally feature homeowners associations and
feature established rules about the uniformity and appearance of houses (Blakely). They
also set rules about overnight car parking and sprinkler usage. This sort of control is
appealing to those who believe in following rules and standards but also respect for their
neighbors; I wont leave my car parked in the street thus blocking traffic, if you wont do
the same. The most common reason people seek out gated communities is because they
feel safer (Lax). This helps people who travel often (Prescher) or are double-income
families gone to work for most of the day (Blakely and Snyder 1) feel more confident
about the safety of their home, belongings, and loved ones. All of these are valid reasons
to keeping the gate, but there are greater issues that should be addressed.
I am not opposed to safety or security; the gate is a layer of reassurance atop
alarm systems and motion-sensitive lights. Nothing is worse than feeling unsafe in your

Fathi 4
own home, the domicile of protection. My opposition to the gate is that gated
communities merely reduce, but not stop, crime. Even established police and crime
specialists admit gates only create the perception of safety (McGoey). Because of this,
gates produce a culture of crime and people fearing thus creating isolationism and
exclusivity from non-gated communities and individuals both within and outside of our
neighborhood as well as imposing higher fees on its residents. Are those reasons we want
to keep the gate? Isnt it time to reconsider our opinion of what is often referred to as
that damn gate?
Gated communities have a hold on our culture. Florida is second in the nation in
terms of the number of gated communities (Burton). Developers use them as a marketing
angle, and are sometimes pressured by possible residents to install one (Blakely and
Snyder 1). There are countless security installation companies, like Pro Vigil, that pack
their websites with tips and strategies to make neighborhoods safer. What these sites
dont mention are the complications of keeping and maintaining gates. While a cheaper
alternative to hiring and managing security guards, gates have their own share of
problems. A two-swing system like ours features more costliness to residents. Since there
are two individual gates, there needs to be two separate mechanical gate operators. This
doubles the price and maintenance of a single-swing gate. They are also more prone to
damage than sliding gates as anxious drivers hit them as they enter the property with
their cars. A sliding gate will only get knocked off the track as opposed to bending or
breaking a control arm or weld point. It takes time to repair swinging gates (McGoey),
something we had to deal with this summer for several weeks. When our gate is down, it
unfortunately comes as no surprise to residents. Its seen as a normal occurrence in our

Fathi 5
neighborhood. If these gates are supposed to keep its residents safe and they are broken
more often than not, then what is the point? The repair costs come out of residents
association fees, while many residents are not or are behind on paying. Getting rid of the
gate and its costliness will help those who struggle to pay their bills. Residents could buy
things that dont break down such as electric bills, health insurance, and groceries.
Wouldnt it be in residents best interests for their funds to pay for necessities before
luxuries?
Though no hate crimes have been committed in our subdivision, I have witnessed
firsthand the prejudice of certain individuals when talking about visitors and other
neighbors. Believing people were past these thoughts, it shocked me and made me feel
less enthusiastic about living in Calabria Cove. Gates often have a negative affect on intra
and inter-community interactions, especially regarding individuals (Lax). Cultural
anthropologist and specialist on gated communities Setha Low imagines a nightmare
scenario: Even though the gates and guards exclude the feared others from living with
them, they can slip by the gate, follow your car in, crawl over the wall, or worse, [a
neighbor can] be a criminal himself. [F]amiliarity, avoidance, and surveillance play
important roles in allaying these fears of residents instead of community reach-out and
help (Low). Eliza Harris, the Orlando representative for Congress for the New
Urbanization says, "When you discourage drive-through traffic and pedestrians, it
becomes abnormal to see someone walking (Burton). In an interview with a woman
living in a gated community, she stated her daughter was legitimately terrified of
Hispanic lawn care workers the community hired because she perceived them as
frightening strangers who would harm her; she had never seen these workers or people

Fathi 6
who looked like these workers before. Because of increased media coverage and
national hysteria about urban crime and those who commit crime, this girl associated the
workers with criminals (Low). With scant amounts of exposure to other individuals
unlike residents of a community, there is a link between seclusion and prejudicial
thinking (Lax). These are not thoughts we should foster in our neighborhood regardless
of age. This is especially important in a neighborhood with as many young children in
ours. We want Calabria Cove to be safe and welcoming for visitors and dwellers alike
regardless of demographics.
The fear of crime is less impermeable than a gate is. Outsiders can use walk-in
gates to steal from homes. Its easy to literally slide past or under the gate as Ive seen
several small children do while on the way to school or their bus stop. Gate codes are
freely given to friends of residents and help such as the pizza man, gardeners, and dog
groomers, something many of us are guilty of (Nolin and Trischitta). It is worth stating
that There are ways for criminals to get into gated communities and the gates are not
enough of a deterrent for the affluent homes which may appeal to burglars (Ness). With
a gate, the response time for emergency personnel and services is slower than for a
community without one; it would take longer for police to react to a crime in our
community than a non-gated one like Kaywood (McGoey). Gates are erected to stop
crime when, in reality, these mechanisms only provide an artificial sense of safety
(Blakely). According to FBI statistics, property crime has been steadily declining over the
past five years. In 2008, there was an estimated 9.8 million property crimes compared to
an estimated 9 million in 2012 (FBI 1). While gates do decrease the number of car thefts,
police and urban planning researchers agree there is no research to suggest that the

Fathi 7
decrease in property crime is due to gates (Blakely, Nolin and Trischitta). In fact, there
are more efficient ways to prevent crime that we can establish in Calabria Cove.
Home safety begins with homeowners and the residents of Calabria Cove are no
exceptions. In Pro Vigils article about effective neighborhood security strategies, having
a gate and evaluating its effectiveness is number nine on a list of ten strategies. The first
step, according to this company, is to have a neighborhood watch. As evidenced by
happenings in Twin Lakes, this has its own disadvantages (Pro Vigil). Established police
officer and crime expert Chris McGoey believes a gate with a guard is better than a gate
without a guard; guards check every visitor to the neighborhood before they enter. Since
we do not have room for such an amenity, we can change the master code to the Knox
box more frequently to screen out previous visitors who have memorized codes from
returning with mal intentions. Above all, residents need to learn that home and family
safety begins with them and not the gate (McGoey). In an interview, a reformed burglar
gave tips to homeowners on how to ensure their safety. Tips included using a dowel as a
barrier to screen doors and windows, closing blinds and curtains at night so criminals
cannot see your valuables and light switches, and installing outdoor motion lights on
houses. Using his experience as a burglar, he gave a list of reasonable and low cost ways
to stay safe. We can take the funds dedicated to the gate to establish better home security
systems in each house (Tucker). At the very least, we should keep our gate open during
business hours and closed at night when there are less eyes on the street This
mechanism [is] more effective than additional hardware like gates is an effective mean
of a tightly-knit community like ours (Blakely and Snyder 2).Because crimes have and
will always occur inside and outside of gated communities, it is always necessary to think

Fathi 8
about safety. Calabria Cove can be a neighborhood filled with people who feel safe and
secure without a gate just like Kaywood, Mayfair, and Colonial Village if we take
responsibility for each other and ourselves.

Fathi 9
Annotated Bibliography
Blakely, Edward J. "In Gated Communities, Such as Where Trayvon Martin Died, a
Dangerous Mind-set." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 06 Apr. 2012.
Web. 27 Oct. 2013.
Blakely uses the Trayvon Martin incident as a backdrop to discuss the debate
regarding gates. Blakely states that pro-gaters feel the gates provide extra
security, but whether this is an illusion or a strongly held belief is unknown. There
is also an idea that gates turn the community into a kingdom where their specific
rules and laws must be obeyed. In gated communities, homeowners live under
strict rules themselves like pre-approved house colors and street use and access.
This counter argument gives a sense of the power people who live in gated
communities believe they have while living in such communities. Blakely does
provide researched evidence that disproves the idea that gates make
neighborhoods safer. He also states that these gates do not strengthen a
community, but instead carry the exclusivity the community portrays to outsiders.
Blakely, Edward J., and Mary Gail Snyder. Divided We Fall: Gated and Walled
Communities in the United States. Architecture of Fear. Nan Ellin, ed. New
York: Princeton. Architectural Press, 1997. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.
This study focuses on the history and the logic behind the culture of gates. The
authors track and clarify the role of gates in the U.S. They also maintain that gates
are exclusive to geographic region and socioeconomic sector within a region.
There is information about why developers choose to add gates to housing
developments, mostly stemming from marketing and preying on the fear of crime.

Fathi 10
They classify gated communities in three categories: lifestyle, elite, and security.
These communities have different values Lifestyle communities value
privatization, elite communities value stability, and security communities value
exclusion. These values are the primary motivations behind adding a security gate
to their communities.
Blakely, Edward J., and Mary Gail Snyder. "Putting up the Gates." Shelterforce Online.
(May/June 1997): n. page. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
This article discusses the many factors that go into installing gates in
communities. There are socio-economic issues, financial, and crime-rate issues
that revolve around gates. Blakely and Snyder also report that there are different
types of gates that communities may consider for their neighborhood. They argue
that gates promote a culture of exclusionism and are a phenomenon that is not
limited to wealthy neighborhoods that can afford gates. Blakely and Snyder are
both involved in academia regarding urban and regional planning at the
University of Southern California.
Burton, Bonita. "Florida's problematic gated communities."CNN Opinion. 28 Mar 2012:
n. page. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
In a journalistic approach, Bonita Burton writes about the culture of gated
communities in Twin Lakes, the community home to the Trayvon Martin
shooting. The topic is relevant to Burtons reportage: she is a journalist from the
Orlando area. Burton uses this platform to express her opinion on what she calls
heightened paranoia regarding crime and strangers in gated communities. She
does have a bias, but she presents Twin Lakess and Floridas history with crime

Fathi 11
and gated communities in a neutral manner. In terms of locality to the topic,
Burton is a reliable source, but overall lets her opinion dictate the argument of her
piece.
"Effective Neighborhood Security: 10 Strategies for Community Security
Organizers." Pro-Vigil. 12 Aug 2008: n. page. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
This source is published by Pro-Vigil, a company that will install remote, camera
security in in a neighborhood. This list of tips presents a comprehensive look into
keeping neighborhoods safe. Homeowners can enlist all or choose strategies, such
as buying more lighting for the neighborhood to posting signage about
neighborhood watches. This source is useful because while Pro-Vigil wants to
promote its security system, the tips they include may benefit neighborhoods that
cannot afford such a system. The overall goal is to persuade homeowners to
purchase the companys security system, but it is not the top priority; installing
remote, camera security is third on the list.
Gado, Mark. "What of the Future?" Crime Library. Turner Entertainment, Inc., n.d. Web.
03 Nov. 2013.
Gado, a writer for the crime-and-court-obsessed channel TruTV, writes about the
history of crime and criminals, stemming from early prosecution tactics to the
reasoning of criminal behavior. In this section, Gado brings up the question about
crime and crime-handling in the future. He writes that criminologists do not have
clear answers as to why people commit crimes. It is a combination of
environment, heredity, psychological development and many more factors. The
reasoning behind crimes is not uniform not all larcenists have the same motives

Fathi 12
driving them to commit crime. Gado concludes that crime is too diversified to fit
into clean categories.
Lax, Rick. "Gated Communities Dont Make Us Safer. So Why Do We Buy Into it?" Las
Vegas Weekly. Las Vegas Weekly, 2 Dec. 2010. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.
This is the perception of gated communities by Rick Lax. He writes about his
experiences living in one and features interviews and statistics to address the
culture of gated communities. Lax writes that gated communities are a consumer
demand to housing developers and people are willing to pay extra fees in order to
live in one, perhaps stemming from the idea that gated communities are safer
communities. He notes that people tend to believe of the intra-community
experience that some gated communities provide and others do not; some
residents feel closeness to their fellow gated neighbors than they did in prior
neighborhoods without one. This is a benefit that some believe gated communities
offer to residents, but can be achieved through motivated individuals regardless of
a gate.
Low, Setha M. "The Edge and the Center: Gated Communities and the Discourse of
Urban Fear."American Anthropologist. 103.1 (2001): 45-51. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
AnthropologistSethaLowseekstounderstandthecultureofgatedcommunities.
Lowbelievesgatedcommunitiesarepartofagreaterdiscourseoncrimeandthe
fearofcrime.ThisarticlefeaturesLowsresearchintothistopicby
supplying

pictures,interviews,andresearchmethods.Itisascholarlysourceonthe

topicof

exclusivitythatgatedcommunitiessupplyandperpetuate.Lowseeksto

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findout

ifthesegatesareforthatreasonaloneoradeeperinsecurityaboutclass

culture

anddiversity.

McGoey, CPP, CSP, CAM, Chris E. "Gated Communities." Crime Doctor. 2001: n. page.
Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
Chris McGoey is an expert on the topic of security and home security. He
provides his expertise and advice about gated communities while presenting his
professional opinion on the subject. McGoey speaks about gates in terms of pros
and cons, liability, and cost. As someone with an extensive resume on the subject
of security, McGoey is a valuable source. His personal opinion is that gates
provide better safety opportunities, but acknowledges the perception of safety
they provide. His holistic approach to the subject does veer toward pro-gate.
Ness, Bill. "The Pros and Cons of a Gated Community." 55 Places, 28 May 2012. Web.
27 Oct. 2013.
This article is featured on a website geared toward senior citizens aged 55 and
above looking for senior-friendly real estate. The article does exactly what
its title
does

suggests; it talks about the pros and cons of a gated community. While it
feature information that supports my argument, it also features information to
support the counterargument. Ness stresses that gates do not stop crime and are
not necessarily safer than non-gated neighborhoods. Ness writes that people find
gates appealing because they provide less traffic, create quieter streets, and have
the air of prestige and exclusivity. There are other means to achieving these
attributes instead of having a gate such as speed bumps and strict noise level
adherence.

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Nolin, Robert, and Linda Trischitta. "Gates Don't Always Ensure Community
Safety."Sun Sentinel. Sun Sentinel, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
This article details one mans reactions to his home being burglarized. He lives in
a gated community and believed the gate would keep him and his belongings safe.
He now knows that this is not necessarily the case as the gate is a symbol of
protection. The authors of the article interview others such as a home developer
who states that homebuyers insist on living in neighborhoods with gates and are
willing to pay any price for that level of security. There is also mention of tactics
of some gated communities to curb or stop common problems in gated
communities like tailgating and the passing out of gate codes. The article closes
out with home safety tips by the Alarm Association of Florida, none of which
include installing gates.
Prescher, Dan. "Are You a "Gated Community" Snob?" International Living.
International Living Magazine, 15 July 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.
Ex-patriot Dan Prescher relates his experiences living in gated and non-gated
communities around the world. Though he never states where he has lived, he
does admit that he thought gated communities had an air of snobbery. When he
and his wife decided to live in an abroad, gated community, they felt a sense of
relief. Prescher admits they did have to lock up their house and valuables when
they had to travel for personal, business, and emergency reasons. Instead of
feeling uneasy about the safety of his valuables, Prescher and his wife felt sure
about their house; they believe the gate protected their items and their neighbors
kept an eye out for them. Prescher rounds out the article by claiming ex-pats

Fathi 15
should live wherever it is that makes them happy, but his bias is clear; he is a
strong proponent for gated communities.
Tucker, Lori. "Reformed Burglar Offers Tips on Keeping Your Home Safe." WATE.com.
WorldNow, 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
Lori Tucker, a reporter for the Knoxville ABC-affiliate WATE, interviews a
reformed criminal about home safety. The anonymous criminal gives the
reasoning behind his and many criminals actions. He gives Tucker an overview
of what criminals, burglars in particular, do when they commit a crime. The
reformed criminal gives Tucker and her audience tips on how to keep their homes
safe and crime-free. He suggests avoiding geo-location services on social media,
keeping the garage door shut at all times, and installing motion-sensitive lights
among other tips. There is no mention of installing a gate or living in a
community with a gate.
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Department of Justice. "Property
Crime." Federal Bureau of Investigation. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 20
June 2013. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
TheFBIhascompileddataandstatisticsaboutcrimeintheU.S.Thispage
featuresanintroductiontoitssectionaboutpropertycrime.TheFBIdefines
propertycrimeasanallinclusivetermthatencompassescrimessuchasburglary,
larcenytheft,motorvehicletheft,andarson;thesearecrimesthatnegatively
affectoneshomeand/orassociatedbelongings.Inafiveyeartrend,property
crimehasdeclinedbetweentheyears2008and2012.In2008,therewerean

Fathi 16
estimated9.8millionpropertycrimeswhiletherewereanestimated9million.
TheFBIdoesnotciteanypossiblereasonsforthisdecreasingtrend.
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Department of Justice. Table 8 Florida - Crime in the United States 2012. Federal Bureau of Investigation, n.d.
Web. 3 Nov. 2013.
Thistable,publishedbytheFBI,givesabreakdownofcrimeinallcitiesin
Florida.Itfeaturesthenumberofindividualcrimessuchasviolentcrime,
robbery,andpropertycrime,aswellthepopulation.Thislistalsoseparateslarge
citiesintoregionssuchasDaytonaBeachandSouthDaytona,thusskewingthe
data.Whatiscolloquiallyknownasamajorcityisseparatedintorespectiveareas.
WhileSanfordhasalownumberofcrimesincategoriessuchasviolentcrimeand
murder,thenumbersarehighestinpropertycrimeandlarceny/theft.Comparing
SanfordsnumberstoAltamonteSprings,anearbycityinthesamecountywitha
similarpopulation,SanfordissaferinthosecategoriesthanAltamonteSprings.
UnlikeSanford,AltamonteSpringsdoesnothaveareputationthatprecedesthe
city.